Poisonous Snakes of the World. Habitat Sidewinder — Photo by: It has a broad triangular head and is usually about 1. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference, Volume 1. These are a relatively small species of pit vipers. They inhabit the wooded south west mountain ranges. The jumping viper is an aggressive brown or gray Central American snake with diamond-shaped crosswise markings on its back. This, in effect, provides the snakes a sixth sense to locate and as well as judge the size of the warm blooded prey they feed on.